Saturday Showdown at Harbour Town

The leaderboard at the 2025 RBC Heritage experienced a significant shift during Saturday’s third round as Si Woo Kim fired a 5-under 66 to overtake Justin Thomas for the lead. Kim will enter Sunday’s final round at 15-under par, holding a slim one-shot advantage over Thomas and Andrew Novak.

Kim wasted no time making his move, birdieing the first two holes to pull even with Thomas, who began the day with four consecutive pars. Thomas’s cautious start included a self-called one-stroke penalty on the second hole when he accidentally moved his ball while removing impediments in a waste bunker – a display of the integrity that defines our game.

Key Moments Decide the Day

The battle remained tight through the front nine with both players making birdies at holes 5 and 9 to reach 14-under. The momentum shifted on the 11th hole when Thomas found water off the tee, leading to his first bogey of the day and giving Kim the outright lead.

The decisive swing came at the par-5 15th. After both players missed the fairway right off the tee, Kim displayed patience by laying up from the waste bunker while Thomas attempted to reach the green in two from the pine straw. Kim converted an 18-foot birdie putt while Thomas struggled with his third shot and made bogey, creating a three-shot separation.

However, the drama wasn’t over. At the challenging 18th, Kim made his first bogey of the day after a poor approach shot found the hazard, while Thomas rolled in a clutch birdie putt. The two-shot swing narrowed Kim’s lead to just one heading into Sunday’s finale.

Crowded Leaderboard for Sunday

The chase pack features plenty of firepower with surprise contender Andrew Novak (-14) playing his way into the final pairing after a birdie at the last hole. Maverick McNealy sits at 13-under after posting his second consecutive 65, showing the kind of momentum that could make him dangerous on Sunday.

Two shots behind Kim at 12-under are Brian Harman and Tommy Fleetwood, while defending champion and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler lurks at 11-under alongside Russell Henley. Patrick Cantlay headlines a group at 10-under that sits five shots off the lead.

Thomas Shows True Sportsmanship

In a moment that highlights why golf stands apart from other sports, Justin Thomas called a penalty on himself during Saturday’s round. As he led the tournament by two shots, Thomas found his tee shot in a waste area on the par-5 second hole.

While attempting to remove loose pebbles and sediment around his ball, Thomas noticed it shifted ever so slightly. Without hesitation, he called over a rules official to discuss the situation and ultimately assessed himself a one-stroke penalty.

The self-reported infraction came at a particularly crucial time for Thomas, who is seeking his first PGA Tour victory since the 2022 PGA Championship. Despite the setback, Thomas maintained his composure and remains just one shot off the lead heading into Sunday’s final round.

Final Round Outlook

With Harbour Town’s firm and fast conditions and the low scores we’ve seen this week, including Thomas’s opening 61 and Byeong Hun An’s 63, anyone within five or six shots of the lead has a legitimate chance on Sunday.

Thomas will need to recapture the magic from his record-tying opening round if he hopes to secure his first PGA Tour victory since the 2022 PGA Championship. Meanwhile, Kim is seeking his fifth PGA Tour title and first since the 2023 American Express.

The final round will be broadcast live from 3-6 p.m. ET on CBS, with early coverage available online. Weather conditions call for partly sunny skies with temperatures in the low 70s and light winds – perfect scoring conditions for what promises to be an exciting finish at the iconic Harbour Town Golf Links.